U.S. patent application number 12/044747 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-02 for method of manufacturing electronic apparatus, electronic apparatus, and subassembly product.
This patent application is currently assigned to KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA. Invention is credited to Hiroyuki Minaguchi, Tomomi Murayama, Satoshi Ooya, Ryosuke Saito, Masanori Sato, Naoya Shigenobu, Masataka Tokoro.
Application Number | 20080239641 12/044747 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39793934 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080239641 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sato; Masanori ; et
al. |
October 2, 2008 |
METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS,
AND SUBASSEMBLY PRODUCT
Abstract
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a
first housing to which a mounting component is attached, a second
housing containing the display, and a hinge portion which rotatably
connects the second housing to the first housing. A method of
manufacturing the electronic apparatus includes preparing a
subassembly product formed by connecting a cover member, which is
to form part of the first housing and to which the mounting
component is to be mounted, with a mask member, which is to form
part of the second housing and is provided with an opening portion
to expose a display screen of the display to outside, by the hinge
portion, and mounting the mounting component on the cover member
through the opening portion of the mask member, in a state where
the subassembly product is folded such that the mask member is
superposed on the cover member.
Inventors: |
Sato; Masanori;
(Koganei-shi, JP) ; Minaguchi; Hiroyuki;
(Higashimatsuyama-shi, JP) ; Murayama; Tomomi;
(Nishitama-gun, JP) ; Ooya; Satoshi;
(Akishima-shi, JP) ; Shigenobu; Naoya; (Ome-shi,
JP) ; Saito; Ryosuke; (Ome-shi, JP) ; Tokoro;
Masataka; (Tachikawa-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLAKELY SOKOLOFF TAYLOR & ZAFMAN LLP
1279 OAKMEAD PARKWAY
SUNNYVALE
CA
94085-4040
US
|
Assignee: |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
39793934 |
Appl. No.: |
12/044747 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.27 ;
29/428 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1656 20130101;
G06F 1/1616 20130101; G06F 1/1658 20130101; Y10T 29/49826
20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/681 ;
29/428 |
International
Class: |
H05K 7/00 20060101
H05K007/00; B23P 11/00 20060101 B23P011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 30, 2007 |
JP |
2007093646 |
Claims
1. A method of manufacturing an electronic apparatus, the
electronic apparatus including a first housing to which a mounting
component is attached, a second housing containing a display, and a
hinge portion which rotatably connects the second housing to the
first housing, comprising: preparing a subassembly product formed
by connecting a cover member, which is to form part of the first
housing and to which the mounting component is to be mounted, with
a mask member, which is to form part of the second housing and is
provided with an opening portion to expose a display screen of the
display to outside, by the hinge portion; and mounting the mounting
component on the cover member through the opening portion of the
mask member, in a state where the subassembly product is folded
such that the mask member is superposed on the cover member.
2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: mounting the
display on the mask member, after the mounting component is mounted
on the cover member.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the mounting of the
display is performed in the state where the subassembly product is
folded such that the mask member is superposed on the cover
member.
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the electronic apparatus
includes another cover member which forms part of the second
housing and faces the display from a side distant from the mask
member, and the method includes engaging said another cover member
with the mask member in the state where the subassembly product is
folded such that the mask member is superposed on the cover member
of the first housing, after the mounting component and the display
are mounted.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mounting component is
a keyboard, the electronic apparatus includes a keyboard holder
which fixes one end portion of the keyboard to the cover member of
the first housing, and the method includes attaching the keyboard
holder to the cover member of the first housing through the opening
portion of the mask member, in the state where the subassembly
product is folded such that the mask member is superposed on the
cover member of the first housing.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the electronic apparatus
includes a touch pad to be attached to the cover member of the
first housing, and the method includes mounting the touch pad on
the cover member of the first housing through the opening portion
of the mask member, in the state where the subassembly product is
folded such that the mask member is superposed on the cover member
of the first housing.
7. An electronic apparatus comprising: a first housing; a second
housing; a hinge portion which rotatably connects the second
housing to the first housing; a mounting component attached to the
first housing; and a display which is contained in the second
housing and includes a display screen, wherein the first housing
includes a first cover member to which the mounting component is
attached, the second housing includes a mask member provided with
an opening portion which exposes the display screen to outside, and
a second cover member which faces the display from a side distant
from the mask member and is engaged with the mask member, the hinge
portion connects the mask member to the first cover member, the
display and the second cover member are detachable from the mask
member; and the opening portion of the mask member is larger than
an outer shape of the mounting component.
8. An electronic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the hinge
portion includes a hinge shaft which is provided between the first
housing and the second housing, and a support member which is
connected to the hinge shaft, extends into the second housing and
is attached to the mask member, and the support member extends from
one end portion of the mask member to the other end portion of the
mask member along a direction perpendicular to an axial direction
of the hinge shaft.
9. An electronic apparatus according to claim 8, further
comprising: another hinge portion having the same structure as that
of the hinge portion, wherein the hinge portions are provided
distant from each other along the axial direction of the hinge
shaft, an edge portion of the mask member, which is most distant
from the hinge shafts, is provided with a rib extending along the
axial direction of the hinge shaft, and the rib extends between the
support members of the hinge portions.
10. An electronic apparatus according to claim 7, further
comprising: an elastic member interposed between the display and
the second cover member, wherein the elastic member presses the
display toward the mask member.
11. A subassembly product forming part of an electronic apparatus,
the electronic apparatus including a first housing and a second
housing which contains a display, the display including a display
screen, comprising: a cover member which is to form part of the
first housing and is provided with a placing portion, to which a
mounting component is to be placed; a mask member which is to form
part of the second housing, includes an opening portion to expose
the display screen to outside, and includes an area to which the
display is to be mounted, the area being opened to outside; and a
hinge portion which rotatably connects the mask member to the cover
member, wherein a whole area of the placing portion is exposed to
outside through the opening portion of the mask member, in a state
where the mask member is superposed on the cover member.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-093646, filed
Mar. 30, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] One embodiment of the present invention relates to an
electronic apparatus in which a display unit is openable/closable
with respect to a main body unit, a subassembly product used for
manufacturing the electronic apparatus, and a method of
manufacturing the electronic apparatus.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Electronic apparatuses such as portable computers have a
main body unit equipped with a circuit board, and a display unit
equipped with a display. A hinge portion is provided between the
main body unit and the display unit. The hinge portion supports the
display unit such that the display unit is rotatable with respect
to the main body unit.
[0006] The main body unit has a first housing. The first housing is
formed to have a box shape having a top wall, a peripheral wall,
and a bottom wall. The first housing is divided into a base member
including the bottom wall, and a first cover member including the
top wall. On the other hand, the display unit has a second housing.
The second housing is formed to have a box shape including a front
wall, a peripheral wall, and a back wall. The second housing is
divided into a mask member including the front wall, and a second
cover member including the back wall. The mask member has a large
opening portion which exposes a display screen of the display to
the outside.
[0007] The hinge portion has a one end portion which is fixed onto
the first cover member, and the other end portion which is fixed
onto the second cover member. The hinge portion connects the second
cover member to the first cover member.
[0008] "Notebook PC Full-Line Catalogue (Qosmio/dynabook/dynabook
SS) 2007 Spring Model" (published by Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba PC
& Network, January 2007, p.4) discloses an electronic apparatus
in which an opening portion of the mask member is larger than the
outer shape of the keyboard. The electronic apparatus has a large
display screen of 17-inch wide. Therefore, the mask member is
provided with the large opening portion corresponding to its
display screen.
[0009] Further, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Pub. No. 2005-100173
discloses an electronic apparatus in which an operating panel is
provided in a side space of a keyboard.
[0010] When an electronic apparatus having a first housing and a
second housing as described above is assembled, first, a
subassembly product (that is, a cover assembly) which is formed by
connecting the second cover member to the first cover member by the
hinge portion. The subassembly product is assembled in, for
example, a separate location, and supplied in a state of being
folded such that the second cover member is superposed on the first
cover member.
[0011] In assembly of the electronic apparatus, the second cover
member is raised with respect to the first cover member, and the
raised second cover member is laid on an assembly table. Then, a
display is mounted on the laid second cover member. Next, a mask
member is engaged to the second cover member equipped with the
display. Thereby, a display unit is assembled.
[0012] After the display unit is assembled, the base member of the
main body unit is laid again on the assembly table. Then, a
keyboard as a mounting component is mounted on the top wall of the
first cover member, in the state where the display unit is raised
with respect to the main body unit. Lastly, the display unit is
closed with respect to the main body unit, and thereby assembly of
the electronic apparatus is finished.
[0013] The electronic apparatus as described above requires
troublesome steps of raising, closing, and laying again the members
of the electronic apparatus during assembly thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] A general architecture that implements the various feature
of the invention will now be described with reference to the
drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided
to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the
scope of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view of a portable
computer according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is an exemplary perspective view of a subassembly
product according to the embodiment of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is an exemplary enlarged perspective view of a part
of the subassembly product illustrated in FIG. 2;
[0018] FIG. 4 is an exemplary perspective view of the subassembly
product according to the embodiment of the present invention, with
a hinge portion exploded;
[0019] FIG. 5 is an exemplary perspective view of an area enclosed
by line F5 in the subassembly product illustrated in FIG. 4;
[0020] FIG. 6 is an exemplary perspective view of an area enclosed
by line F6 in the subassembly product illustrated in FIG. 4;
[0021] FIG. 7 is an exemplary perspective view of a second cover
according to the embodiment of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 8 is an exemplary cross-sectional view of a display
unit according to the embodiment of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 9 is an exemplary perspective view illustrating a step
of engaging a base member with the subassembly product according to
the embodiment of the invention;
[0024] FIG. 10 is an exemplary perspective view illustrating a step
of mounting a touch pad according to the embodiment of the
invention;
[0025] FIG. 11 is an exemplary perspective view illustrating a step
of mounting a keyboard according to the embodiment of the
invention;
[0026] FIG. 12 is an exemplary cross-sectional view illustrating
the step of mounting the keyboard according to the embodiment of
the invention;
[0027] FIG. 13 is an exemplary perspective view illustrating a step
of attaching a display according to the embodiment of the
invention;
[0028] FIG. 14 is an exemplary perspective view illustrating a step
of attaching the second cover member according to the embodiment of
the invention; and
[0029] FIG. 15 is an exemplary perspective view illustrating an
assembled portable computer according to the embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] Various embodiments according to the invention will be
described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In general, according to one embodiment of the invention, a method
of manufacturing an electronic apparatus includes preparing a
subassembly product. The electronic apparatus includes a first
housing to which a mounting component is attached, a second housing
containing a display, and a hinge portion which rotatably connects
the second housing to the first housing. The subassembly product is
formed by connecting a cover member, which is to form part of the
first housing and to which the mounting component is to be mounted,
with a mask member, which is to form part of the second housing and
is provided with an opening portion to expose a display screen of
the display to outside, by the hinge portion. The mounting
component is mounted on the cover member through the opening
portion of the mask member, in a state where the subassembly
product is folded such that the mask member is superposed on the
cover member.
[0031] According to one embodiment of the invention, an electronic
apparatus according to the invention comprises: a first housing; a
second housing; a hinge portion which rotatably connects the second
housing to the first housing; a mounting component attached to the
first housing; and a display which is contained in the second
housing and includes a display screen. The first housing includes a
first cover member to which the mounting component is attached. The
second housing includes a mask member provided with an opening
portion which exposes the display screen to outside, and a second
cover member which faces the display from a side distant from the
mask member and is engaged with the mask member. The hinge portion
connects the mask member to the first cover member. The display and
the second cover member are detachable from the mask member. The
opening portion of the mask member is larger than an outer shape of
the mounting component.
[0032] According to one embodiment of the invention, a subassembly
product forms part of an electronic apparatus, the apparatus
including a first housing and a second housing which contains a
display, the display including a display screen. The subassembly
product comprises: a cover member which is to form part of the
first housing and is provided with a placing portion, to which a
mounting component is to be placed; a mask member which is to form
part of the second housing, includes an opening portion to expose
the display screen to outside, and includes an area to which the
display is to be mounted, the area being opened to outside; and a
hinge portion which rotatably connects the mask member to the cover
member. A whole area of the placing portion is exposed to outside
through the opening portion of the mask member, in a state where
the mask member is superposed on the cover member.
[0033] An embodiment of the present invention is explained with
respect to drawings in which an embodiment of the present invention
is applied to a portable computer.
[0034] FIGS. 1 to 15 illustrate a portable computer 1 serving as an
electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present
invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the portable computer 1
comprises a main body unit 2 and a display unit 3.
[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the main body unit 2 has a first
housing 4 having a box shape. The first housing 4 has a top wall
4a, a peripheral wall 4b, and a bottom wall 4c. The first housing 4
has a first cover member 5, and a base member 6. The first cover
member 5 includes the top wall 4a and part of the peripheral wall
4b, and forms part of the first housing 4. The base member 6
includes the bottom wall 4c and part of the peripheral wall 4b, and
forms part of the first housing 4. The first cover member 5 is
engaged with the base member 6, and detachably supported by the
base member 6.
[0036] A keyboard 8, a touch pad 9, and a button unit 10 are
mounted on the top wall 4a of the first cover member 5. Each of the
keyboard 8 and the touch pad 9 is an example of a mounting
component (i.e. housing mounting component). The top wall 4a is
provided with a keyboard placing portion 12 in which the keyboard 8
is mounted, a touch pad placing portion 13 in which the touch pad 9
is mounted, and a button unit placing portion 14 in which the
button unit 10 is mounted. Each of the placing portions 12, 13 is
an example of a placing portion of the invention.
[0037] The portable computer 1 has a keyboard holder 16 which fixes
the keyboard 8 onto the keyboard placing portion 12. As illustrated
in FIG. 11, engaging claws 8a are provided on one end portion of
the keyboard 8. On the other hand, the keyboard placing portion 12
is provided with engagement holes 12a facing the engaging claws 8
of the keyboard 8. When the engaging claws 8a of the keyboard 8 are
inserted into the respective engagement holes 12a, one end portion
of the keyboard 8 is supported by the keyboard placing portion
12.
[0038] The keyboard holder 16 has engaging projections 16a.
Engagement holes 12b with which the engaging projections 16a of the
keyboard holder 16 engage are provided in an edge portion of the
keyboard placing portion 12, which is located opposite to the end
portion provided with the engagement holes 12a. The keyboard holder
16 is detachably attached to the edge portion of the keyboard
placing portion 12, and supports the other end portion of the
keyboard 8. Thereby, the both end portions of the keyboard 8 are
fixed onto the keyboard placing portion 12. The keyboard 8 may be
fixed by fixing members such as screws, instead of the keyboard
holder 16.
[0039] The portable computer 1 has a touch pad frame 17 which fixes
the touch pad 9 onto the touch pad placing portion 13. As
illustrated in FIG. 10, the touch pad frame 17 has first and second
engaging claws 17a and 17b. The touch pad placing portion 13 is
provided with first engagement holes 13a facing the first engaging
claws 17a, and second engagement holes (not shown) facing the
second engaging claws 17b.
[0040] The touch pad frame 17 is attached to the touch pad placing
portion 13 such that the touch pad 9 is held between the touch pad
frame 17 and the touch pad placing portion 13. When the first and
second engaging claws 17a and 17b are engaged with the first
engagement holes 13a and the second engagement holes 13b,
respectively, the touch pad 9 and the touch pad frame 17 are fixed
onto the touch pad placing portion 13.
[0041] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the display unit 3 has a second
housing 21 having a box shape, and a display 22 contained in the
second housing 21. Examples of the display 22 are a liquid crystal
display, a plasma display, an organic electroluminescent display,
and a surface-conduction electron-emitter display. The display 22
has a display screen 22a.
[0042] The second housing 21 has a front wall 21a, a peripheral
wall 21b, and a back wall 21c. The second housing 21 has a mask
member 23, and a second cover member 24. The second cover member 24
is an example of another cover member. The mask member 23 includes
the front wall 21a and part of the peripheral wall 21b, and forms
part of the second housing 21. The second cover member 24 includes
the back wall 21c and part of the peripheral wall 21b, and forms
part of the second housing 21. The second cover member 24 is
opposed to the display 22 from the side distant from the mask
member 23, engaged with the mask member 23, and detachably
supported by the mask member 23.
[0043] A large opening portion 23a is formed in the front wall 21a
of the mask member 23. The opening portion 23a is opposed to the
display 22, and exposes the display screen 22a of the display 22 to
the outside of the second housing 21. One example of the size of
the opening portion 23a of the mask member 23 is larger than the
total size of the outer shape of keyboard placing portion 12 and
the outer shape of the button unit placing portion 14.
Specifically, the size of the opening portion 23a is larger than
the outer shape of the keyboard 8, and larger than the outer shape
of the keyboard holder 16.
[0044] More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a longitudinal
width w1 of the opening portion 23a is larger than a longitudinal
width s1 of the keyboard 8, and larger than a longitudinal width t1
of the keyboard holder 16. A length w2 of the opening portion 23a
in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof
is larger than a total length s2 of the keyboard 8 and the keyboard
holder 16 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal
direction of the keyboard 8.
[0045] A pair of hinge portions 26a and 26b are provided between
the first housing 4 and the second housing 21. The hinge portions
26a and 26b support the second housing 21 such that the second
housing 21 is rotatable with respect to the first housing 4.
Therefore, the display unit 3 is rotatable between a closed
position (refer to FIG. 15), in which the display unit 3 is closed
to cover the top wall 4a of the main body unit 2 from above, and an
open position (refer to FIG. 1) in which the display unit 3 is
raised to expose the top wall 4a.
[0046] Next, a subassembly product 31 which is called a "cover
assembly" is explained with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6. The
subassembly product 31 is a component which forms part of the
portable computer 1.
[0047] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the subassembly product 31
according to the embodiment includes the first cover member 5, the
mask member 23, and the hinge portions 26a and 26b. Each of the
hinge portions 26a and 26b has one end portion fixed onto the mask
member 23, and the other end portion fixed onto the first cover
member 5, and rotatably connects the mask member 23 to the first
cover member 5. Thereby, the subassembly product 31 is connected
and integrated.
[0048] As described above, the first cover member 5 is provided
with the keyboard placing portion 12, the touch pad placing portion
13, and the button unit placing portion 14. The button unit 10 is
attached to the button unit placing portion 14. The keyboard
placing portion 12 has a bottom wall 12c. An opening portion 12d is
provided in the bottom wall 12c. The touch pad placing portion 13
has a bottom wall 13b.
[0049] The mask member 23 includes the front wall 21a and part of
the peripheral wall 21b of the second housing 21 as described
above, and is opened to the outside in the direction facing the
back wall 21c. Specifically, it can be said that an area of the
mask member 23 in which the display 22 is mounted is opened to the
outside. Thereby, a whole area of the keyboard placing portion 12
is exposed to the outside through the opening portion 23a of the
mask member 23, in the state where the mask member 23 is superposed
on the first cover member 5.
[0050] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mask member 23 has four edge
portions 41, 42, 43 and 44 which form a frame of the mask member 23
in cooperation. Specifically, the mask member 23 has a first edge
portion 41 which is located uppermost when the display unit 3 is
raised with respect to the main body unit 2, a second edge portion
42 which is located lowermost when the display unit 3 is raised
with respect to the main body unit 2, and third and fourth edge
portions 43 and 44 which extend between the first and second edge
portions 41 and 42 on the left and the right sides of the opening
portion 23a, respectively.
[0051] Each of the hinge portions 26a and 26b has a hinge shaft 46
and a sheet-metal member 47. The sheet-metal member 47 is an
example of a support member. The hinge shaft 46 is provided between
the first housing 4 and the second housing 21. Specifically, the
first edge portion 41 is an edge portion most distant from the
hinge shaft 46 in the mask member 23.
[0052] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the first edge portion 41 is
provided with a first rib 51. For explanation, the first rib 51 is
hatched in FIG. 3. The first rib 51 stands up in the thickness
direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 8) of the display unit 3,
and extends from one end portion to the other end portion of the
first edge portion 41 along the axial direction of the hinge shaft
46 (that is, the direction extending from the third edge portion 43
toward the fourth edge portion 44, hereinafter referred to as "the
first direction").
[0053] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the second edge portion 42 is
provided with a second rib 52. The second rib 52 stands up in the
thickness direction of the display unit 3, and extends along the
first direction. The third edge portion 43 is provided with a third
rib 53. The fourth edge portion 44 is provided with a fourth rib
54.
[0054] The third and fourth ribs 53 and 54 stand in the thickness
direction of the display unit 3, and extend from one end portion to
the other end portion of the third edge portion 43 or the fourth
edge portion 44, along a direction perpendicular to the axial
direction of the hinge shaft 46 (that is, a direction extending
from the second edge portion 42 toward the first edge portion 41,
hereinafter referred to as "the second direction").
[0055] FIG. 4 illustrates one hinge portion 26a in detail. One end
of the hinge shaft 46 is fixed onto the first cover member 5 by a
fixing mechanism (not shown). The other end of the hinge shaft 46
is connected to the sheet-metal member 47. The sheet-metal member
47 extends into the second housing 21, and is attached to the mask
member 23. The other hinge portion 26b has the same structure as
that of the hinge portion 26a.
[0056] The sheet-metal member 47 extends from one end portion to
the other end portion of the third edge portion 43 or the fourth
edge portion 44, along the second direction. A distal end portion
47a, a center portion 47b, and a proximal end portion 47c of the
sheet-metal member 47 are fixed onto the mask member 23.
[0057] More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the distal end
portion 47a of the sheet-metal member 47 is tapered to have a
projection shape. As illustrated in FIG. 5, an engagement member 56
is provided in an end portion of the third edge portion 43. An
engagement hole 56a opposed to the distal end portion 47a of the
sheet-metal member 47 is opened in the engagement member 56. When
the distal end portion 47a of the sheet-metal member 47 is inserted
into the engagement hole 56a, the distal end portion 47a of the
sheet-metal member 47 is fixed to the mask member 23.
[0058] As illustrated in FIG. 4, two opening portions 47ba and 47bb
are provided in the center portion 47b of the sheet-metal member
47. As illustrated in FIG. 6, an engaging claw 57 projects from a
wall portion forming the peripheral wall 21b toward one opening
portion 47ba of the sheet-metal member 47. Further, an engaging
claw 58 projects from the third rib 53 toward the other opening
portion 47bb of the sheet-metal member 47. When the opening
portions 47ba and 47bb of the sheet-metal member 47 are engaged
with the engaging claws 57 and 58, respectively, the center portion
47b of the sheet-metal member 47 is fixed to the mask member
23.
[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 4, a screw insertion hole 47ca is
provided in the proximal end portion 47c of the sheet-metal member
47. The mask member 23 is provided with a boss (not shown) which is
opposed to the screw insertion hole 47ca and has a screw hole. When
a screw 59 which is inserted through the screw insertion hole 47ca
is screwed into the screw hole of the boss, the proximal end
portion 47c of the sheet-metal member 47 is fixed to the mask
member 23. Since the largest force acts on the proximal end portion
47c in the sheet-metal member 47, the proximal end portion 47c is
firmly secured to the mask member 23 by using the screw 59.
[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the engagement member 56, with
which the distal end portion 47a of the sheet-metal member 47 of
the hinge portion 26a is engaged, is located adjacent to one end of
the first rib 51. The engagement member 56, with which the distal
end portion 47a of the sheet-metal member 47 of the hinge portion
26b is engaged, is located adjacent to the other end of the first
rib 51. The first rib 51 extends between the sheet-metal members 47
of a pair of the hinge portions 26a and 26b that are provided
distant from each other in the first direction. Specifically, the
sheet-metal members 47 of the hinge portions 26a and 26b and the
first rib 51 surround the opening portion 23a in cooperation from
three directions, and enhance stiffness of the mask member 23.
Further, the second to fourth ribs 52, 53 and 54 enhance the
stiffness of the mask member 23.
[0061] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mask member 23 is provided
with a plurality of first elastic members 61. An example of the
first elastic members 61 is a rubber member. The first elastic
members 61 are spaced from one another and arranged in regions
surrounding the display 22. The first elastic members 61 are
attached to the first to fourth ribs 51, 52, 53, and 54.
[0062] The distance between the first elastic members 61 attached
to the first rib 51 and the first elastic members 61 attached to
the second rib 52 is almost the same as or slightly smaller than
the length of the display 22 along the second direction. The
distance between the first elastic member 61 attached to the third
rib 53 and the first elastic members 61 attached to the fourth rib
54 is almost the same as or slightly smaller than the width of the
display 22 along the first direction.
[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 14, when the display 22 is placed on
the mask member 23, the display 22 is surrounded by the first
elastic members 61 attached to the first to fourth ribs 51, 52, 53
and 54. The first elastic members 61 support the display 22 in
cooperation from four directions. In other words, the display 22 is
fitted in a region surrounded by the first elastic members 61.
Thereby, the position of the display 22 along the first and second
directions is fixed. The display 22 is detachable from the mask
member 23.
[0064] As illustrated in FIG. 7, second and third elastic members
62 and 63 are attached to a surface of the second cover member 24
opposed to the display 22. Specifically, the second elastic members
62 are attached to a region opposed to the edge portion of the
display 22. The third elastic member 63 is attached to a region
opposed to the central portion of the display 22. As illustrated in
FIG. 8, when the second cover member 24 is engaged with the mask
member 23, the second and third elastic members 62 and 63 are
interposed between the display 22 and the second cover member
24.
[0065] An example of the second elastic members 62 is rubber
members. An example of the third elastic member 63 is a sponge
member. The second elastic members 62 are formed of a material
having a larger coefficient of elasticity than that of the third
elastic member 63. In other words, the second elastic member 62 is
formed of a material which is less deformable and harder than the
third elastic member 63.
[0066] The second elastic members 62 are provided to position the
display 22 along the thickness direction of the display unit 3.
Since the second elastic members 62 which are resistant to
deformation are opposed to the edge portion of the display 22, the
display 22 is prevented from wobbling.
[0067] The thickness of the third elastic member 63 is set larger
than the thickness of the second elastic member 62. When the second
cover member 24 is engaged with the mask member 23, the third
elastic member 63 is compressed to almost the same thickness as
that of the second elastic members 62. The third elastic member 63
applies pressing force to the display 22 toward the mask member
23.
[0068] The second elastic members 62 have parts tolerances, and
thus are slightly different from one another in thickness. The
third elastic member 63 presses the display 22 toward the mask
member 23, and thereby influence of parts tolerances of the second
elastic members 62 is reduced, and wobbling of the display 22 is
further suppressed. The second and third elastic members 62 and 63
may be attached to the back surface of the display 22, instead of
the second cover member 24.
[0069] Next, an example of a method of manufacturing the portable
computer 1 is explained with reference to FIGS. 9 to 15.
[0070] First, the base member 6, the second cover member 24, and
the subassembly product 31 are prepared. The subassembly product 31
is assembled in, for example, a separate location, and prepared in
the state where the mask member 23 is folded to be superposed on
the first cover member 5, that is, in the state where the mask
member 23 is closed with respect to the first cover member 5.
[0071] As illustrated in FIG. 9, a circuit board 65 and a unit 66
are mounted on the prepared base member 6. Examples of the unit 66
are a cooling fan and an optical disk drive. After the circuit
board 65 and the unit 66 are mounted on the base member 6, the
subassembly product 31 assembled in advance is engaged with the
base member 6 from above. Specifically, the first cover member 5 of
the subassembly product 31 is engaged with the base member 6, and
thereby the first housing 4 is formed. In the step of engaging the
base member 6 with the subassembly product 31, the subassembly
product 31 is kept in the state where the mask member 23 is folded
to be superposed on the first cover member 5.
[0072] As illustrated in FIG. 10, after the subassembly product 31
is engaged with the base member 6, the touch pad 9 and the touch
pad frame 17 are attached. In the step of attaching the touch pad 9
and the like, the subassembly product 31 is kept in the state where
the mask member 23 is folded to be superposed on the first cover
member 5. The touch pad 9 and the touch pad frame 7 are mounted on
the touch pad placing portion 13 through the opening portion 23 of
the mask member 23a.
[0073] Specifically, first, the touch pad 9 is placed on the touch
pad placing portion 13. Before or after placing of the touch pad 9,
a cable 9a of the touch pad 9 is inserted into a connector 67
mounted on the circuit board 65. Thereby, the touch pad 9 is
electrically connected to the circuit board 65.
[0074] After the touch pad 9 is placed, the touch pad frame 17 is
attached onto the touch pad 9. Specifically, the second engaging
claws 17b of the touch pad frame 17 are engaged with corresponding
engagement holes (not shown), and the first engaging claws 17a are
engaged with the engagement holes 13a. Thereby, the touch pad 9 and
the touch pad frame 17 are fixed onto the touch pad placing portion
13.
[0075] As illustrated in FIG. 11, after the touch pad 9 is
attached, the keyboard 8, the keyboard holder 16, and a reinforcing
member 68 are attached. In the step of attaching the keyboard 8 and
the like, the subassembly product 31 is kept in the state where the
mask member 23 is folded to be superposed on the first cover member
5. As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the keyboard 8, the keyboard
holder 16, and the reinforcing member 68 are mounted on the first
cover member 5 through the opening portion 23a of the mask member
23.
[0076] Specifically, a cable 8b of the keyboard 8 is inserted into
a connector 69 mounted on the circuit board 65. Thereby, the
keyboard 8 is electrically connected to the circuit board 65. After
the cable 8b is connected to the connector 69, the reinforcing
member 68 is attached to the opening portion 12d of the keyboard
placing portion 12. The reinforcing member 68 is formed of sheet
metal or the like, and reinforces the bottom wail 12c of the
keyboard placing portion 12.
[0077] Then, the keyboard 8 is placed on the reinforcing member 68
and the bottom wall 12c. Claws 8a of the keyboard 8 are inserted
into the engagement holes 12a, and thereby one end portion of the
keyboard 8 is supported. Further, the keyboard holder 16 is
attached, and thereby the other end portion of the keyboard 8 is
supported.
[0078] As described above, the steps of mounting the keyboard 8,
the touch pad 9, and components around them are finished.
[0079] As illustrated in FIG. 13, after the keyboard 8 is mounted
on the first cover member 5, the display 22 is mounted on the mask
member 23. The display 22 is mounted on the mask member 23
independently of the second cover member 24. Specifically, when the
display member 22 is fitted in the region surrounded by the first
elastic members 61, the display 22 is supported by the first
elastic members 61 from four directions and the position thereof is
fixed. Before or after placing the display 22, a cable (not shown)
of the display 22 is connected to an inverter 70. In the step of
mounting the display 22, the subassembly product 31 is kept in the
state where the mask member 23 is folded to be superposed on the
first cover member 5.
[0080] As illustrated in FIG. 14, the second cover member 24 is
engaged with the mask member 23 on which the display 22 has been
mounted. In the step of engaging the second cover 24 with the mask
member 23, the subassembly product 31 is kept in the state where
the mask member 23 is folded to be superposed on the first cover
member 5. When the second cover member 24 is engaged with the mask
member 23, the second and third elastic members 62 and 63 and the
mask member 23 hold the display 22 therebetween, and retain the
display 22. Thereby, the position of the display 22 in the
thickness direction of the display unit 3 is fixed.
[0081] The display 22 may be fixed by using fixing members such as
screws. In the embodiment, the display 22 is held by the first to
third elastic members 61, 62 and 63, without using fixing members
such as screws to fix the display 22.
[0082] Lastly, a step of mounting hinge covers 71 is performed, and
thereby the portable computer 1 is assembled as illustrated in FIG.
15.
[0083] According to the portable computer 1 having the above
structure, it is possible to apply a method of manufacturing the
portable computer 1 with improved assemblability. Specifically,
since the first cover member 5 and the mask member 23 are connected
by the hinge portions 26a and 26b, and the display 22 and the
second cover member 24 are detachable with respect to the mask
member 23, the keyboard placing portion 12 is exposed to the
outside through the opening portion 23a of the mask member 23, even
in the state where the mask member 23 is superposed on the first
cover member 5.
[0084] Since the opening portion 23a of the mask member 23 is
formed larger than the outer shape of the keyboard 8, the keyboard
8 can be mounted on the keyboard placing portion 12 through the
opening portion 23a of the mask member 23. Specifically, the
keyboard 8 can be attached to the first cover member 5, without
raising the mask member 23 with respect to the first cover member
5. The mounting work can be simplified since it is unnecessary to
raise the mask member 23 in the step of mounting the keyboard 8,
and thus assemblability of the portable computer 1 is improved.
[0085] In the same manner, since the keyboard holder 16 can be
attached to the first cover member 5 through the opening portion
23a of the mask member 23, it is unnecessary to raise the mask
member 23 for mounting the keyboard holder 16. The touch pad 9 can
be mounted on the first cover member 5 through the opening portion
23a of the mask member 23, and it is unnecessary to raise the mask
member 23 for mounting the touch pad 9. These points improve the
assemblability of the portable computer 1.
[0086] Since the display 22 is mounted after the keyboard 8 is
mounted on the first cover member 5, the display 22 does not become
an obstacle in the step of mounting the keyboard 8. Since the
display 22 is mounted on the mask member 23, it is unnecessary to
raise the mask member 23 for mounting the display 22. This
contributes to improvement in assemblability of the portable
computer 1. Further, since the display 22 is mounted in the state
where the mask member 23 is superposed on the first cover member 5,
the mounting direction of the display 22 can be aligned with the
mounting direction of the keyboard 8. Aligning the mounting
directions of a plurality of units contributes to improvement in
assemblability of the portable computer 1, since the assembly
process can be simplified.
[0087] Since the second cover member 24 is engaged with the mask
member 23 in the state where the mask member 23 is superposed on
the first cover member 5, the mounting direction of the second
cover member 24 can be aligned with the mounting direction of the
keyboard 8.
[0088] According to the embodiment, the portable computer 1 is
assembled by superposing the circuit board 65, the subassembly
product 31, the touch pad 9, the touch pad frame 17, the keyboard
8, the keyboard holder 16, the display 22, and the second cover
member 24 on the base member 6 in succession. Specifically, the
mounting directions of main components 65, 31, 9, 17, 8, 16, 22 and
24 forming the portable computer 1 are unified to the same
direction. Therefore, the worker can successively stack the main
components 65, 31, 9, 17, 8, 16, 22 and 24 in a fixed direction,
and very high workability is achieved.
[0089] Further, the mounting direction is a vertical downward
direction. The worker can stack up the main components 65, 31, 9,
17, 8, 16, 22 and 24 upward. Therefore, the workability is further
improved, and the required workspace is relatively small. Further,
the assembly work is simplified, and thus the invention contributes
to reduction in mistakes in work. Further, since the mounting
directions of the main components are unified to a specific
direction, the invention has an advantage in automation of
assembly.
[0090] It is considered that the subassembly product 31 is
assembled in a separate location, for example, and supplied in the
folded state such that the mask member 23 is superposed on the
first cover member 5. According to the portable computer 1 of the
embodiment, it is possible to assemble the portable computer 1 in
the state where the mask member 23 is kept closed, without raising
the mask member 23 with respect to the first cover member 5
once.
[0091] Specifically, it is never necessary to raise the mask member
23, in mounting the touch pad 9, the touch pad frame 17, the
keyboard 8, the keyboard holder 16, the display 22, and the second
cover member 24 as described above. Specifically, the portable
computer 1 can be assembled, without raising, closing, replacing,
or rotating the mask member 23 and the second cover member 24. This
contributes to improvement in assemblability of the portable
computer 1.
[0092] Further, since it is unnecessary to raise the mask member 23
and the second cover member 24, damage to the components is
suppressed, and the quality of the portable computer 1 is
improved.
[0093] Since the hinge portions 26a and 26b are connected to the
mask member 23, bending moment is applied to the mask member 23
when the display unit 3 is rotated. Generally, the mask member 23
has stiffness lower than that of the second cover member 24, for
example, since it has the large opening portion 23a. However, in
the portable computer 1 according to the embodiment, the
sheet-metal members 47 of the hinge portions 26a and 26b extend
from one end portion to the other end portion of the mask member
23, along a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the
hinge shafts 46. Therefore, most of the bending moment applied to
the mask member 23 can be received by the sheet-metal members 47,
and it is possible to prevent breakage of the mask member 23.
[0094] Further, the first rib 51 is provided between the
sheet-metal members 47 of the hinge portions 26a and 26b, in the
edge portion 41 which is most distant from the hinge shafts 46 in
the mask member 23. Providing the first rib 51 enhances the
stiffness of the edge portion 41, and it is possible to prevent
breakage of the mask member 23. Since the first rib 51 extends
between the sheet-metal members 47 of the hinge portions 26a and
26b, the first rib 51 and the two sheet-metal members 47 further
enhance the stiffness of the mask member 23 in cooperation.
[0095] Since the sheet-metal members 47 are attached by insertion
into the engagement members 56 or engagement by the engaging claws
57 and 58, screwing steps or the like can be reduced, and thereby
assemblability can be improved.
[0096] The display 22 may be screwed to the sheet-metal members 47,
for example. When the first elastic members 61 are arranged to
support the display 22 from four directions as in the embodiment,
the position of the display 22 along the first and second
directions is fixed only by placing the display 22 on the mask
member 23. Specifically, screwing steps or the like can be
omitted.
[0097] Since there are the elastic members 62 and 63 interposed
between the display 22 and the second cover member 24, the position
of the display 22 can be fixed along the thickness direction of the
display unit 3, without using fixing members such as screws. These
points contribute to improvement in assemblability of the portable
computer 1.
[0098] The present invention is not limited to the portable
computer 1 according to the embodiment described above. For
example, the touch pad 9 may be contained inside the first housing
4 and exposed to the outside through an opening provided in the
touch pad placing portion 13. The touch pad 9 which is placed on
the bottom wall 13b of the touch pad placing portion 13 as in the
above embodiment has an advantage of improvement of assemblability,
since the mounting direction of the touch pad 9 is the same as the
mounting direction of the keyboard 8.
[0099] The mounting components of the invention are not limited to
the keyboard 8 and the touch pad 9, but various input devices and
output devices such as a power switch and a speaker also correspond
to the mounting components. Electronic apparatuses to which the
present invention is applicable are not limited to portable
computers.
[0100] While certain embodiments of the inventions have been
described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example
only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions.
Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be
embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various
omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and
systems described herein may be made without departing from the
spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their
equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as
would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
* * * * *